Cable winding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for winding cable and the like including a spherically shaped reel, a hollow drive shaft extending through said reel, and a winding arm fastened to a free end of the drive shaft for receiving cable through the drive shaft and winding or unwinding the cable on the reel. Torque governing means is provided to control cable tension during winding and unwinding operation.

United States Patent 1151 3,700,180 Siil [4 1' Oct. 24, 1972 1541 CABLEWINDING APPARATUS 2,518,967 8/1950 wm ..242/2 x [72] Inventor: TilbertC, Sitz, Richardson, Tex. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS v [731Assignee= Rad) Cmn'pany Dallas, 884,215 4/1943 France ..242/84.21 w306,208 6/1955 Switzerland ..343/877 22 F] d: M 11,1971 1 l 6 8y 1Primary Examiner Billy S. Taylor PP 142,194 Attorney-Henry K. Woodwardand Robert J. Crawford [52] US. Cl ..242/54 A, 242/3,324432/g875 [57]ABSTRACT [51] int. Cl. ..B65h 75/34 pp atu or ndi g cable and the likeincluding a [58] Field of Search ..242/54 A, 84.21 w, 2, 3, 85, p r yShaped reel. a hollow drive shaft extending 2 7 5 7 186, 139, 443, 5;through said reel, and a winding arm fastened to a free 3 7 end-0f thedrive shaft for receiving cable through the v drive shaft and winding orunwinding the cable on the [56] References Cited reelQTorque governingmeans is provided to control cable tension during winding and unwindingopera- UNITED STATES PATENTS tioni 2,496,890 2/1950 Peterson; ..242/54 AI 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED UN 2 4 1973 3, 7 O 0, 1 8 O SHEET1 0F 2 INVENTOR GILBERT C. S/TZ ATTORNEY PATENTEDBBT24 m2 7 3.700.1 0

SHEET 2 0F 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR 5/J 4/w w4 F G. 6 ATTORNEY GILBERT c. s/TZ 1 CABLE WINDINGAPPARATUS This invention relates to winding apparatus, and moreparticularly to apparatus for winding cable or the like and especiallysuited for accommodating airborne radio transmitter antennas.

1n airborne radio transmitters for operating in the LF-VLF frequencyrange, a trailing wire is unreel'ed from inside the aircraft and servesas the transmitter antenna. The length of the trailing wire isapproximately one-half the operating frequency wavelength as terminalvoltage on the antenna during transmission of radio waves is minimizedunder such conditions, as is well known in the art.- Since the VLF rangebegins at kilohertz which is a wavelength of 30,000 meters, it will beappreciated that the antenna is very much longer than the aircraft.

Because of the length of wire employed in such transmitters, suitablereel means for accommodating the wire is needed. Heretofore, acylindrical reel means has been employed with some success, but such anapparatus has speed limitations and presents braking problems due to theamount of kinetic energy as-' sociated with its use. Furthermore, duringthe reeling cycle, proper storage of the cable on the reel requires thatcable diameter be maintained within very close limits. With presentlyused equipment diameter variations beyond these limits will result inmis-spooling. A reeling means that will circumvent this limitation willallow more cycles of operation for a given cable.

Thus, the need exists for reel means or winding apparatus which may beoperated faster in reeling and unreeling a heavy load such as thedescribed antenna, and which presents less kinetic energy in operation.The need also exists for a storage device which will allow an increasednumber of wind-unwind cycles while reducing or eliminating theoccurrence of a misspool.

Machines for winding cord-like members on a spherical bobbin are knownin the art. Typically, such machines are found in the textile industryfor winding yarn, as described in US. Pat. No. 2,901,190, or in pressurevessel manufacturing as'described in US. Pat. No. 2,966,935. Asexemplified by these patents, a rotatable spherical spool receives thecord member from an arm exterior to the sphere which is rotated aboutthe sphere. Such machines, however, are not designed for rapid windingand unwinding of the cord.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is an improved reel apparatus.

Another object of the invention is winding apparatus for rapidly windingand unwinding awire.

Still another object of the invention is an improved winding apparatusfor use with an airborne LF-VLF antenna which presents less kineticenergy in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means tending above saidreel. A hollow winding arm is fastened to said free end of said driveshaft and is rotatable about said reel. Drive means and coupling meansare provided to said drive shaft and to said reel whereby said reel isrotated an increment for each complete revolution of said winding arm.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be morereadily apparent from the following detail description and appendedclaims when taken with the drawings, in which:

- FIG. l'is. a perspective view of winding apparatus in accordance-withthepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a spherically shaped reel embodied in theapparatus of FIG. 1;

. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the reel of FIG. 2 and illustrates geararrangements within said reel;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a gear arrangement on the drive shaft of theapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view partially in section of the support means for saidreel of the apparatus of FIG. 1 an further illustrates a geararrangement; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a speed changer and torque control thatchanges speed ratios between two shafts and is direction of motionsensitive.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of oneillustrative embodiment of the winding apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention.

Shown generally at 10 is the wire accommodating portion of saidapparatus and includes a spherically shaped reel 12 which is rotatablymounted on a support member 14. As used herein, the term sphericallyshaped includes a truncated sphere. Mounted around thediametralperimeter of reel 12 are a plurality of protruding guideposts 15 whichguide and maintain relative positions of the coils wound on the reel.

A drive shaft 16 extends generally diagonally up and through supportmember 14 and reel 12 and is supported at either end of the supportmember by suitable bearing means. Mounted on the upper end of driveshaft 16 is a winding arm 18, which directs a wire or like member as itis wound on or unwound from the reel, and a counterbalance member 19.Both drive shaft 16 and winding arm 18 are hollow in this embodimentthereby accommodating a wire therethrough. A wire 20 is passed overguide roller 22 into the hollow portion of drive shaft 16 for winding onthe reel. The wire passes up through drive shaft 16, over roller 24, andinto the hollow portion of winding arm 18. The wire emerges from windingarm 18, passes over a rotatably mounted roller 26, and then onto thereel 12.

Drive motor 30 provides power to the winding apparatus through the geartrain shown generally at 32. Spur gears 34 and 36 of gear train 32provide desired speed reduction of the drive motor, and bevel gears 38and 40 couple the drive motor to drive shaft 16. Suitable geararrangements. are provided within support means 14, as will be describedfurther below, whereby reel 12 moves one complete revolution for everyrevolutions of winding arm 26 (assuming 105 guideposts). Expresseddifferently, reel 12 is indexed one increment (1 I105 revolution) foreach revolution of winding arm 18 thereby indexing each coil of wire onthe reel 12 to the succeeding guidepost. Since the number of posts andspaces are odd, a space is available when the winding arm is rotated orone-half revolution.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the reel portion 12 of the winding apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1. The wire coils are wound generally along greatcircles about the spherically shaped central portion of the reel withupper and lower flange portions 50 and 52 providing support for thecoils. As described above, the reelis indexed one increment for eachrevolution of the winding arm thereby indexing, succeeding coils alongthe guideposts 15.

Referring now to the bottom view of the reel 12 illustrated in FIG. 3 itwill be noted that a bearing ring 54 is provided for supporting the reelon support member 14. Internal gearv 56 is provided for receiving powerfrom the drive shaft 16 through the gear train arrangement illustratedin FIGS. 4 and 5.

With reference toFlG. 4, a portion of the drive shaft 16 within thesupport means 14 is provided with a worm-gear 60 which drives bevel gear62 on shaft 64. Shaft 64 transmits power from drive shaft 16 through asuitable gear arrangement to the reel 12, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. shows partially in section the support means introductionof thedevice shown in FIG. 5, the length of cable applied to the reel was thesame as that wra d on the reel; the 'ndin w'll now attem to $12? morewire onto e ree than t e capstan will tension in the cable beingwrapped. A reversal in the Y direction of rotation will cause clutch 77bto engage 14 and the remaining portion of the gear train which providesmotion to reel 12. Support means 14 comprises a pedestal portion 65 andinsertion member 66 which fastens to pedestal 65 and screws or likefasteners to maintain the reel member thereon.

Shaft 64 illustrated in FIG. 4 also accommodates bevel gear 68 whichdrives a cooperative bevel gear 70 mounted on shaft 72. At the upper endof shaft 72 is a spur gear 74 which mates with the internal gear 56 ofthe reel 12, illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, in operation drive motorprovides power for drive shaft 16 through means of gear train 32, asillustrated in FIG- 1.

As winding arm 18 is revolved about the reel 12,

drive shaft through the support member and reel minimizes the spacerequirements required for the winding apparatus, which is a criticalrequirement in airborne applications.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a constant torque device which isadvantageously inserted into the drive shaft 16 to control cabletensionduring winding and unwinding operation. Shaft 16 is broken and offset to16a with gears 75, 76, one-way clutch 77, and slip clutch 78 used as aconnecting means. Subscripts a and b are used for purposes of operatingdescription. Shaft 16a rotated in a clockwise direction engages one-wayclutch 77a driving gear 76a. Gear 75a is fixed to shaft 16a and drivesgear 77b. Gear 76 is slightly larger than gear 75. With the abovenotation and gear ratios, shaft 16 is driven at a rotational speedslightly greater than gear 76b and clutch 77b is overrun. Assuming thatcable is fed through tube 16 from a tension reducing device, such as acapstan, at a constant speed and that prior to the and clutch 77atooverrun. As a result the capstan will now try to remove more cablethan the winding arm will release. As a result clutch 78 must now slipin the opposite'direction and again transmitting same preset torque andresult in the same cable. tension with, however, a reversal in thedirection of cable translation.-

While the invention has been described with reference'to a specificembodiment, the description is illustrative and is not to be construedas limiting the scope of the invention. Various modifications andchanges may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Winding apparatus comprising:

a. a spherically shaped reel;

b. supportmeans for rotatably receivingsaid reel;

c. a hollow drive shaft extending through said support means and throughsaid reel with a free end extending above said-reel;

d. a winding arm fastened to said free end of said 'drive shaft androtatable about said reel; e.-drive means;

f. first means for coupling said drive means to said drive shaft; and

g. second means for couplingsaid drive means to said reel whereby saidreel is rotated an increment for each complete revolution of saidwinding arm.

2. Winding apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reelincludes a plurality of guideposts projectingly mounted about adiametral perimeter thereof.

3. Winding apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said reel isrotated an increment equal to the spacing between adjacent guidepostsfor each complete revolution of said winding arm.

4. Winding apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said supportmeans includes a pedestal member for receiving the lower point of saidreel and an insert portion for positioning in the upper part of saidreel for fastening said reel to said pedestal member.

'5. Winding apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said secondmeans for coupling includes a gear train within said support means forcoupling said drive shaft to said reel.

6. Winding apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first meanscomprises torque governing means which provides the same torque betweensaid drive means and said drive shaft in both wind and unwindoperations.

7. Winding apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said torquegoverning means comprises oneway clutch means coupled to said drivemeans and slip clutch means coupling said one-way clutch means to saiddrive shaft.

1. Winding apparatus comprising: a. a spherically shaped reel; b.support means for rotatably receiving said reel; c. a hollow drive shaftextending through said support means and through said reel with a freeend extending above said reel; d. a winding arm fastened to said freeend of said drive shaft and rotatable about said reel; e. drive means;f. first means for coupling said drive means to said drive shaft; and g.second means for coupling said drive means to said reel whereby saidreel is rotated an increment for each complete revolution of saidwinding arm.
 2. Winding apparatus in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid reel includes a plurality of guideposts projectingly mounted abouta diametral perimeter thereof.
 3. Winding apparatus in accordance withclaim 2 wherein said reel is rotated an increment equal to the spacingbetween adjacent guideposts for each complete revolution of said windingarm.
 4. Winding apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein saidsupport means includes a pedestal member for receiving the lower pointof said reel and an insert portion for positioning in the upper part ofsaid reel for fastening said reel to said pedestal member.
 5. Windingapparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second means forcoupling includes a gear train within said support means for couplingsaid drive shaft to said reel.
 6. Winding apparatus in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said first means comprises torque governing means whichprovides the same torque between said drive means and said drive shaftin both wind and unwind operations.
 7. Winding apparatus in accordancewith claim 6 wherein said torque governing means comprises one-wayclutch means coupled to said drive means and slip clutch means couplingsaid one-way clutch means to said drive shaft.